[00:15.23]There's an evening haze settling over town
[00:18.90]Starlight by the edge of the creek
[00:22.46]The buying power of the proletariat's gone down
[00:26.35]Money's getting shallow and weak
[00:29.61]The place I love best is a sweet memory
[00:33.13]It's a new path that we trod
[00:36.77]They say low wages are a reality
[00:39.35]If we want to compete abroad
[00:44.40]My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf
[00:48.07]Come sit down on my knee
[00:51.62]You are dearer to me than myself
[00:55.14]As you yourself can see
[00:58.76]While I'm listening to the steel rails hum
[01:02.50]Got both eyes tight shut
[01:06.09]Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from
[01:09.77]Creeping its way into my gut
[01:13.49]
[01:14.05]Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
[01:17.12]Bring me my boots and shoes
[01:20.81]You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
[01:24.28]Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
[01:27.60]
[01:35.65]I'm sailing on back, ready for the long haul
[01:38.98]Tossed by the winds and the seas
[01:42.41]I'll drag them all down to hell and I'll stand them at the wall
[01:46.30]I'll sell them to their enemies
[01:49.80]I'm trying to feed my soul with thought
[01:53.55]Going to sleep off the rest of the day
[01:57.18]Sometimes no one wants what we got
[02:00.79]Sometimes you can't give it away
[02:04.44]Now the place is ringed with countless foes
[02:08.12]Some of them may be deaf and dumb
[02:11.40]No man, no woman knows
[02:15.44]The hour that sorrow will come
[02:19.14]In the dark I hear the night birds call
[02:22.79]I can feel a lover's breath
[02:26.32]I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall
[02:30.30]Sleep is like a temporary death
[02:33.97]Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
[02:36.69]Bring me my boots and shoes
[02:41.26]You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
[02:44.93]Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
[02:50.05]
[02:56.68]They burned my barn, and they stole my horse
[03:00.03]I can't save a dime
[03:03.84]I got to be careful, I don't want to be forced
[03:07.30]Into a life of continual crime
[03:10.75]I can see for myself that the sun is sinking
[03:14.46]How I wish you were here to see
[03:18.43]Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking
[03:22.43]That you have forgotten me?
[03:25.69]Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret
[03:29.02]They waste your nights and days
[03:32.48]Them I will forget
[03:35.99]But you I'll remember always
[03:39.04]Old memories of you to me have clung
[03:43.43]You've wounded me with your words
[03:47.22]Gonna have to straighten out your tongue
[03:51.59]It's all true, everything you've heard
[03:55.42]Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
[03:58.28]Bring me my boots and shoes
[04:01.72]You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
[04:05.61]Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
[04:13.04]
[04:16.87]In you, my friend, I find no blame
[04:19.95]Wanna look in my eyes, please do
[04:24.00]No one can ever claim
[04:27.61]That I took up arms against you
[04:31.24]All across the peaceful sacred fields
[04:34.79]They will lay you low
[04:38.67]They'll break your horns and slash you with steel
[04:42.39]I say it so it must be so
[04:46.10]Now I'm down on my luck and I'm black and blue
[04:50.37]Gonna give you another chance
[04:53.36]I'm all alone and I'm expecting you
[04:56.69]To lead me off in a cheerful dance
[05:00.42]I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife
[05:04.03]I can live on rice and beans
[05:07.58]Some people never worked a day in their life
[05:11.57]Don't know what work even means.
[05:15.01]Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
[05:18.80]Bring me my boots and shoes
[05:22.35]You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
[05:26.23]Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
[05:35.33]